In Greco-Roman Times as well as during the Renaissance we have seen the importance of the Heroic image in defining man's relation to nature and the universe, well exemplified in architecture, sculptures, murals, and paintings. Has there been any other time in history where humankind's desire for immortality and contact with the Gods been so beautifully expressed as during these two periods in history? The Renaissance Masters, influenced by the beauty of Man expressed in the monumental edifices and sculptures of ancient Greece and Rome, borrowed from this and, combining it with their Neoplatonic philosophy, created masterpieces which have never been rivalled, placing Western culture in a defining position to question with confidence it's previous belief systems. With all this beauty of Man's potential around them, from Michaelangelo's David to Brunelleschi's masterful Dome, is it not possible that scientific men such as Galileo were inspired to question man's role and place in the Universe? The art and architectural innovation of the Renaissance played an important role in nourishing man's desire to question his beliefs and propel the culture forward. Can we say the same for art and architecture today? Does it inspire and motivate Mankind?
photos: photographed by Wayne McLennan in Rome and Florence 2010.
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